Take-up device



Aug. 28, 1962 D. STONER 3,051,299

TAKE-UP DEVICE Filed Jan. 2a, 1959 INVENTOR.

- LELAND D. STON ER ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofilice 3,@l,2% Patented Aug. 28, 1962 3451399 TAKE UP DEViCE Leland l). Stoner, 1327 Boat Rock Road SW., Atlanta, Ga. Filed Jan. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 789,559 13 Claims. (CL 198-208) This invention relates to a take-up device and the like and more particularly to adjustable take-up mountings for a pillow block carrying a roller over which the belt passes, frequently at an end of the conveyor belt or line.

An object of the invention is to provide a mounting device which can readily be used to mount standard or special pillow block units of ball, roller, babbitted or bronze bearing types.

Another object is to provide such a mounting device that can be used with more than one size of pillow block units without structural alteration.

Another object is to provide a mounting device of this kind from which the pillow block can be readily removed without removal of the mounting device from the conveyor belt frame structure.

Still another object is to provide a take-up device of this kind which may be readily disassembled in large measure for replacement of damaged or corroded parts.

Yet another object is to provide a device of this kind which is light in weight and yet is of unusually high strength.

The attainment of these and other objects apparent below is shown in connection with a take-up device which, briefly stated, includes a pair of spaced angle iron side members providing a way therebetween in which are carried slides for mounting a pillow block. An adjusting screw rod moves one of the slides to the desired position. The side members are provided with mounting brackets which may be disposed in selected predetermined positions relative to the side members.

In the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, one of many possible embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a side view of the take-up device.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the device, and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective of the device showing the parts thereof.

The embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings in connection with a pillow block 19 carrying a shaft 11, includes a longitudinal take-up frame 12 substantially alike at both ends comprising a pair of, say, steel parallel elongated side members 13 of L-shaped cross section having relatively narrow inturned flanges 14 directed toward each other at the top of the frame and spaced apart to form a way 15 therebetween. The side members are secured with respect to each other giving the frame a shape of approximately square cross section, by substantially square end head plates 16 at each end portion of the side members and welded thereto, the head plates being spaced slightly from the ends of the side members to provide a substantially square recess =17 at each end. An externally threaded bearing boss member 18 fast on and passing through the central portion of each head plate projects outwardly therebeyond in longitudinal axial alignment with the frame.

For mounting the frame on the conveyor belt general supporting structure (not shown) I provide a right angle bracket member 19 at each end of the frame, which bracket member includes a base portion 24} and a wall portion 21 apertured as at 22 to permit said boss member to project outwardly past the wall portion, the latter being adapted to engage flush against the ends 23 of the side members. Since in some installations said general supportin structure may not afford accurately machined flat surfaces to which the brackets may be attached, the latter may be in the form of manganese bronze castings to prevent breaking when they are attached to irregular surfaces. However, under many conditions of use the brackets may be of steel or iron.

In some instances of use the shaft 11 is parallel to the surfaces of means on said structure and in other instances the shaft is perpendicular, so that the brackets must be set in different positions relative to the frame. Selectively fixed positions are obtained by use of a substantially square positioning or detent member 24 fast on the inner face 25 of wall member and receivable more or less closely, but preferably not snugly, in said square recess. The member 2 as a square apertured plate welded to the wall member, has the additional function of strengthening the bracket, while a nut 26 threaded on the boss member holds the bracket wall member against the end of the frame.

The pillow block it) is carried on driven and follower slides or blocks 2'7 and 28 in the frame, which slides are provided with lateral rabbet grooves 29 to permit the medial portion 39 of the blocks to project between the flanges 14 upwardly about as high as the top surface of the flanges with the blocks engaging the under face 31 of same. The driven slide is adjusted to position by a threaded rod 32 within the frame and boss members 18 and having end portions projecting outwardly from the latter. This slide 27 differs from the follower slide by having fast on the slide 27 and thereunder an inverted U-member 33 including a yoke piece 34- welded on the slide 27. The U-member includes leg members 35 welded on the piece 34- which are provided with holes 36 through which the rod 32 may pass freely. A square drive nut 37 for the driven slide block is disposed between the leg pieces and carried on the threaded rod, the nut having a flat lateral face 38 for en agement against the yoke piece 34 to hold the nut against turning so that rotation of the threaded rod causes the nut and driven slide to move, the latter moving in the way 15.

The rod 32 is rotated by suitable means such as a nut 3? secured on the end of the rod as by a pin 40. The slides are provided with short support means or downwardly projecting pins 41 to engage the rod 32 to prevent the slides from falling appreciably downwardly when not in use, the width of the slides being about equal to the distance between the side members 13. Thus the supports are short enough not to engage the rod when the device is in use. The pillow block 16 is mounted on the slides 27 and 28 by conventional means such as nuts and bolts 42 and 43.

The take-up device as shown can be produced substantially completely from standard shapes and stock material with virtually no recourse to expensive tools, other than a welder and threader; even the rabbet grooves 29 can be provided by use of a laminated construction for the slides 27 and 28. By the same token, the device may be readily repaired and its open construction permits ready access to allparts that may require inspection or repair.

In use the brackets 19 are secured, as by bolts (not shown) passing through holes 44 in the base portion 20, to some suitable part of a conveyor belt framework with the shaft 11 parallel or perpendicular to the planes of such base portions depending on position of the detent means 24 in the recess 17. The pillow block may then be mounted on the slides 27 and 28. Usually the takeup devices are used in pairs, so that finally the rod 32 of each device is rotated to align the pillow blocks and position same to give the desired tension on the belt.

Many changes may be made in the embodiment as shown without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is;

1. In a take-up device, an elongated frame including side members and end members secured between the side members inwardly of the ends of the side members; threaded bearing boss members projecting outwardly from the respective end members; mounting members for the frame and each including a planar apertural Wall portion disposed against'an end of the side members; nut members on the boss members for holding the mounting members against the side members, and detent members fast on the respective wall portions for engaging the side members to prevent the mounting members from turning with respect to the side members.

2. In a take-up device as claimed in claim 1, said detent members being square apertural plates to provide the additional function of strengthening said wall portion.

3. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said side members being flanged strips having the flanges thereof being directed toward each other and lying in a substantially common plane.

4. In a take-up device, an elongated frame including spaced side members having upper flanges directed towardeach other and substantially lying in a common plane; a threaded rod in the frame longitudinal thereof and below the flanges; a slide member between the side members and engageable with the under face of the flanges, and support means projecting downwardly from the'slide member, the lower end of said support means terminating above the'rod when the slide member is in flat engagement with the under face of the flanges, but engageable with the rod to limit downward movement of the slide member.

5. In a take-up device, an elongated frame having parallel spaced side members provided with inwardly directed upper flanges; a rotatably mounted threaded rod in the frame longitudinal thereof and secured against longitudinal movement; a driven slide block in the frame and provided with lateral rabbet grooves to permit the medial portion of the slide block to project between the flanges upwardly to terminate at about the top surface of the flanges; an inverted U-member under the slide block and including a yoke piece fast thereon, the U- member including leg members on the yoke piece and provided with holesthrough which the rod may pass freely; adrive nut for the slide block between the leg pieces and carried on the threaded rod, the nut having a flat lateral face for engagement against the yoke piece to hold the nut against turning, and means for mounting a bearing on the slide block.

6. A longitudinal take-up frame substantially alike at both ends comprising a pair of parallel elongated side members of L-shaped cross section having inturned flanges directed toward each other and spaced apart to form a way therebetween; head plates at'each end portion of the side members and fast thereon; an externally threaded bearing boss member fast on the central portion of each head plate and'projecting outwardly therebeyond; a bracket member at each endof the frame and including a base portion and a wall portion apertured to permit said bossmember to project outwardly past the wall portion, the latter being adapted to engage flush against the ends f the side members, a nut on each boss member to hold the wall portions against the ends of the side members, a rotatable rod carried by the boss members and slide means cooperating with said frame and controlled by said rod for slidable movement with respect to said frame upon rotation of said rod.

7. In a take-up device, a longitudinal frame substantially alike. at both ends comprising a pair of parallel elongated side members of L-shaped cross section having inturned flanges directed toward each other and spaced apart to form a way therebetween, substantially square end head plates at each end portion of the side members and welded thereto, the head plates being spaced slightly from. the ends of the side members to provide a substantially square recess; an externally threaded 'bearing boss member fast on the central portion of each head plate and projecting outwardly therebeyond; a bracket member at each end of the frame and including a base portion and a wall portion apertured to permit said boss member to project outwardly past the wall portion, the latter being adapted to engage flushagainst the ends of the side members; a substantially square detent member fast on the inner face of the wall member and receivable in said recess and having substantially the same lateral dimensions as those of the recess for preventing turning of the bracket relative to the frame when the detent member is in the recess, but allowing the brackets to be placed in at least two selected positions about the axis of the boss, a nut threaded on the boss member for holding the bracket member against the end of the frame, a rotatable rod carried by the boss members and slide means cooperating with said frame and controlled by said rod for slidable movement with respect to said frame upon rotation of said rod.

8. A take-up device comprising an elongated frame including a pair of spaced opposed members, a rotatable threaded rod beneath said frame, brackets engaging the ends of said frame for supporting said frarne'by its ends therebetween, a detent carried by one of said brackets and engageable with said frame in at least two positions of said frame for rotationally fixing said frame in the selected position with respect to said one of said brackets, and a slide member slidably carried by said frame, said slide member being provided with means projecting between said opposed members and engaging the threads of said rod for positive movement axially with respect to said rod upon rotation of said rod, said rod projecting through said brackets.

9. In a take-up device of the type having an elongated frame with a flat slide surface against which rides a slide member, the position of said slide member being controlled by a shaft parallel to the slide surface and within the frame, the combination therewith of a pair of spaced bracket members at the ends of said frame, one of said bracket members having a base portion and a wall portion, said wall portion having surfaces for receiving the end of said frame in at least two positions of said frame and being adapted to maintain said frame in either of the aforesaid positions when received, the other of said brackets being constructed and arranged to support the other end of said frame, said base portion being constructed and arranged for receiving a bolt which secures the device in place, means for supporting said shaft along the axis of said frame and for rotatably locking said shaft with respect to said frame.

10. In a take-up device of the type having an elongated frame with a flat side surface against which rides a slide member, the position of said slide member being controlled by a shaft parallel to the slide surface and within the frame, the combination therewith of a pair of spaced bracket members abutting the ends of said frame, each bracket member having a base portion and a wall portion normal to said base portion, said wall portion having a height greater than the width of said frame and a width greater than the width of said frame such that the end of said frame may abut said wall portion in at least two positions of said frame, means connected to said wall portion and normally engageable with portions of said frame in at least two positions of said frame for fixing the radial position of said frame with respect to said bracket member, a boss extending between said bracket member and the end portion of said frame, a lock nut carried by said boss for locking said frame in a fixed position with respect to said bracket member, the base portion of each bracket member being provided with an opening for receiving a bolt which secures the device in place, said shaft protruding through the wall portions of said bracksaw. I

ets, and means on the ends of said shaft for rotatably locking said shaft with respect to said brackets.

11'. In combination, an elongated frame including a pair of spaced parallel side members, head members secured to the end portions of said side members, one of said head members being spaced inwardly of its associated end of said side members such that parallel boundaries are provided by the ends of said side members outwardly of said one of said head members, a bracket adjacent said one of said head members for abutting the ends of said side members, said bracket including a plate mounted thereon for engagement with said boundaries in at least two portions of said frame to prevent rotation of said frame with respect to said bracket when the end of said frame is abutting said bracket.

12. The structure defined in claim 11 including means for securing said bracket and said end of said frame in abutting relationship.

13. The structure defined in claim 11 including an externally threaded means projecting from said frame, said bracket being provided with an aperture through which said threaded means projects, and a nut engaging said threaded means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,837,260 Francis Dec. 22, 1931 2,762,663 Sloyan Sept. 11, 1956 2,833,598 Sloyan May 6, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 519,615 Canada Dec. 20, 1955 

